Ichigo Milk or Japanese Strawberry Milk is a timeless dessert and snack first popularized in Japan throughout the Showa period (circa 1960). Merely mash candy, recent strawberries in a bowl with a particular strawberry spoon and pour chilled milk on prime. Really easy, so scrumptious!

As you recognize, I create most of my recipes with inspiration from my mom’s cooking, reader requests, or eating via journey. In the present day’s recipe is kind of uncommon, because it‘s the primary one impressed by cutlery—particular Japanese strawberry-shaped spoons, to be particular! When I discovered these spoons at my household dwelling in Japan, I knew I needed to carry them again to the US and share them with you.
So, right here we’re! In the present day’s put up is about this distinctive cutlery born in Japan with the bonus of a easy and nostalgic dessert recipe.
What’s a Strawberry Spoon?
The strawberry-shaped spoons are referred to as ichigo spoon (イチゴスプーン) and have been invented in 1960 (Showa 35) in Japan.


At the moment, strawberries have been trending in Japan. Imported strawberries have been fairly bitter, so individuals mashed them with a teaspoon, sweetened them with sugar, and stirred in milk to make the tart berries extra palatable. Nevertheless, the rounded bowl of a teaspoon was not optimum for mashing this fruit. Therefore, the strawberry spoon was invented!
What makes it a strawberry spoon?
- Spork form: This particular utensil is definitely a spork, with quick tines on the tip that assist you spear and minimize the fruit.
- Flat backside: The underside of the spoon bowl is flat, making it simpler to press and smash the strawberries.
- “Seed” texture: The flat backside is textured with dots that appear to be stawberry seeds that will help you get a greater grip on the berries.
- Strawberry tops imprint: Typically, the spoon bowl is even adorned with a strawberry tops motif to resemble the fruit.
As Japanese farmers began rising strawberries domestically, customers might get sweeter strawberries. This implies it was now not crucial so as to add milk and sugar, and strawberry spoons ultimately turned much less frequent in Japanese households.
Regardless of this, the “strawberries-and-cream” pairing stays a timeless traditional that the Japanese take pleasure in to at the present time. This easiest of recipes makes a wholesome after-school snack or straightforward dessert!


Elements for Japanese Strawberry Milk
- Strawberries – Choose candy, ripe, and medium-firm recent strawberries. I discovered strawberries imported from Korea at my native H-Mart (Korean grocery store). They appear fairly much like Japanese strawberries and style alike, too. These are barely smaller, much less bitter, and have extra strawberry taste than American strawberries.
- Milk – You need to use any sort, together with plant-based milk.
- Sugar – Non-obligatory, and you’ll skip it in case your strawberries are candy sufficient.




Learn how to Make Japanese Strawberry Milk
- Rinse the strawberries very effectively underneath operating water.
- Hull them with a pointy knife. I minimize them in half and put them in particular person bowls.
- Mash the strawberries with a strawberry spoon.
- Sprinkle sugar (non-compulsory) and pour milk on prime. Get pleasure from!




Recipe Suggestions for Ichigo Milk
- You possibly can elevate this quite simple recipe with good-quality strawberries and milk and cute glass bowls to emphasise the recent and chilled dessert.
- Search for vibrant purple strawberries with their inexperienced caps nonetheless in place. The fruit ought to have a noticeable strawberry scent, a medium firmness, and no mildew. If the strawberries are laborious and partly white, then they don’t seem to be ripe but.
- You will discover strawberry spoons on Amazon, Walmart, or another on Amazon.
Different Scrumptious Strawberry Recipes






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Showa-style Japanese Strawberry Milk (Ichigo Milk)
Ichigo Milk or Japanese Strawberry Milk is a timeless dessert and snack first popularized in Japan throughout the Showa period (circa 1960). Merely mash candy, recent strawberries in a bowl with a particular strawberry spoon and pour chilled milk on prime. Really easy, so scrumptious!
Elements
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